A Wedding In Manila: The Lu-Pascual Nuptials
By: Maria Girlie Pascual
I met the bride in February of 2023, at my birthday dinner with a small group of family and friends. She was introduced to me by our soft spoken, well traveled, champion golfer Kenneth Pascual, son of my eldest brother DocBoy, and his former spouse Dr Ceres Nazareno. Catherine was all smiles and had a friendly demeanor about her, and Kenneth, I saw, was the happiest he’s been since I last saw him in 2019, before the Covid lockdown for travel. The following year 2024, they were still together, joining our family celebrations when we came back to Manila after attending a wedding in Thailand. Both of them seemed cheerily content with the relationship, and they traveled together often, so it was no surprise when they announced their engagement at the beginning of the year. At that time, after their engagement at a Taylor Swift concert in Singapore, we met with Catherine’s family and talked about the wedding plans for 2025. They also formally asked me to be a “Ninang” (Godparent) at their nuptials, and I accepted…happily! Thus began the preparation for the grand Lu-Pascual wedding of 2025.
The year went by quickly. All of the traveling relatives made their attendance known after the official invitations came out in June, 2024. From room accommodations, to transportation, to the itinerary, program, etc., Kenneth and Kat-Kat, as friends called her, were hands on with all the preparations and logistics for their big day. The choice of church, venue, food, music, decor and how the wedding will look like were all based on shared experience, or childhood memories, family ties, and of course, the bride’s own vision. I dare not imagine all the discussions, the trips, the research, the budget (of course, thanks to the groom’s parents) that went into all the considerations for this epic event in both the bride and groom’s lives. Because in the end, the love between them is what’s being celebrated here, and everything else is just “icing on the cake”.
Soon, it was time for family, close friends, participants to all gather at the church to welcome the couple. Weddings to me, are very happy occasions, the culmination of what the couple has shared over time to get to the altar. At this moment, it was the end of a journey of courtship, and the beginning of a life together as husband and wife. No one doubted Kenneth and Catherine’s love for each other, everyone basked in the glow of their mutual respect and affection, their lifelong commitment and joy in becoming a family of two that day, hoping that one day, with God’s grace and blessing, that core family expands to a child born from this union. The church ceremony was a formal ratification of their feelings for each other, the reception that followed was the celebration of their upcoming life together, and happiness reigned supreme that day.
Congratulations to Catherine and Kenneth! May each day bring you even closer as you prepare to face the world together, through good times and bad, “in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, ’til death do you part”. We are happy to have been at your wedding, honored to have been part of your ceremony, and hopeful that God will guide you through all your trials, tribulations, highs and lows, that through it all, your love for each other will be the force that binds you for life!
The bridal walk to the altar with her parents at her side.
The handsome groom Kenneth with parents Docboy Arsenio Tristan Pascual & mom Dr Ceres Nazareno.
Ninang Maria Girlie Pascual with good friend Ninong Boy Ongpauco walking the aisle.
Our little prince Kenzo as Ring Bearer.
Waiting for the bride are Ninangs Elizabeth & Girlie with ring bearer Kenzo.
The parents of the bride and groom at the altar: Mr & Mrs Lu with Dr Arsenio Pascual & Dr Ceres Nazareno at the Santuario De San Jose in Greenhills Metro Manila.
Cheering for the new Mr & Mrs Kenneth & Catherine Anne Pascual.
Looking dapper are Chicago guests Paul Regacho & Los Angeles resident Sonny Madera.
The beautiful bride & her bridesmaids.
The wedding party pictorial with the Maid of Honor Flamae Uong and bride Catherine, with groom Kenneth & groomsman cousin Kris Pascual-Wildoer.
Four Pascual brothers reunited (L-R) Arsenio 5th Brent, Father of the Groom Arsenio 3rd Docboy Pascual, Kenneth the groom, Arsenio 7th AA, and Arsenio 6th Bently.
My niece Annika the bridesmaid and her new cousin Ate “Katkat” Catherine Lu-Pascual, the bride.
The Stylish Regacho’s: Elbert, ElizaBeth & Paul at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Girlie at the reception entrance with Kenzo & Miki Pascual.
Miki Pascual serenading the newlyweds at the reception.
Pascual Cousins reunited (L-R Ladies) Atty Therese Kris Pascual-Guzman, Sabrina, Angel, Annika & Asia, (L-R Gents) Zap, Kris, Adam, Miki and Archer.
USA guests (L-R) Elbert & Ninang Elizabeth Regacho, Salvy Marino, Kat with my son Kristoffer, Sonny Madera & Ninang Girlie.
Kenneth having fun with his Pascual cousins (L-R) Miki, Adam, Zap, Matt, Joaquin, Jam Reyes & Kris Pascual-Wildoer at the “after party “.
Beautiful setting at the wedding reception Marriott Newport Manila.
The modern & very lush reception of the wedding venue.
Traveling buddies Elizabeth Regacho, Salvy Marino, Sonny Madera & Girlie at the reception.
Sharing a moment with the newlyweds Kenneth & Catherine are Kristoffer and Kat.
The newlyweds with the Pascual family & friends.
From the flowers, to the chandeliers, the lighting, staging, backdrop, it was truly a bridal dream wedding for Catherine Ann & my nephew Kenneth Pascual – congratulations!
